Ways to beat gem-show traffic

And it's likely to get worse, especially Downtown, in the coming week as the Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase winds down.

Anyone who must drive through Downtown or around other heavily trafficked gem show venues should anticipate heavy traffic and delays, especially near the stretch of North Stone Avenue just south of Speedway, where a major road project is under way.

And please watch out for pedestrians. There were three fatal collisions with pedestrians last week alone.

Suggestion: Why not take one of the shuttles running between gem show venues? Save time, money and wear and tear on your nerves — and you won't have to worry about parking.

The Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau's GemRide service and Ms. Transportation both offer free shuttles during the gem show. Guides to the chamber's shuttle are at Tucson International Airport or La Placita Visitor Center, 100 S. Church Ave., and all shuttle stops. Find out more at the www.visit tucson.org/gem show Web site.

For information about Ms. Transportation, call 327-4674.

There's also TICET — Tucson Inner-City Express Transit, the city's free Downtown-area shuttle service. Information can be had at 791-5071 or at dot.ci .tucson.az.us/parkwise/ online.

RoadQ

Question: Susan Kitchell says the city installed a new traffic light at East Irvington and South Pantano roads a couple of months ago. But she wonders why motorists on southbound Pantano who want to turn left only get a yellow arrow, instead of a green light.

ANSWER: That's how the city sets up traffic lights at "T-intersections" such as Irvington-Pantano, said Michael Graham, city Transportation Department spokesman. The yellow arrow is intended to remind southbound motorists on Pantano to watch for pedestrians as they turn left, because that's where the crosswalk is located — east of the intersection.